Nigeria, Egypt game turns from friendly to practice match

The much-anticipated pre-AFCON clash between Nigeria and Egypt has taken a different shape following FIFA’s decision that clubs can hold on to their players until Monday, 15 December 2025 before releasing them for the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Originally scheduled for Sunday, 14 December in Cairo, the game has now been pushed to Tuesday, 16 December.

Beyond the postponement, the fixture will no longer be treated as a full international friendly but as a practice match, allowing both sides to make more than five substitutions. The encounter will kick off at 8pm Egypt time (7pm Nigeria time) at the Cairo Stadium.

Nigeria, three-time AFCON winners, are drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda, and Tanzania, with their opening game against Tanzania on 23 December in Fes. Egypt, seven-time champions, are in Group B with South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, and will play their group matches in Agadir.